Focus On All Families draws queers

Focus On All Families, a counter event to Citizens for Community Values’ annual fundraiser, was held at Xavier University’s campus on Tuesday, April 21. CCV is a conservative group that is opposed to everything from gay marriage to comprehensive sex education. Many organizations participated in the event, including Equality Ohio, The Gathering, PFLAG Cincinnati, MUSE women’s chorus, GLSEN, Xavier Alliance, Cincinnati Men’s Chorus, GenderBloc and UC’s LGBTQ coordinator.

The event featured child-friendly activities such as face painting, jump rope and hula hoops. Some boothes had prizes, others had candy, but by far the best part was the cotton candy. MUSE and Cincinnati Men’s Chorus both performed for the audience, and about 100 people attended the event.

Planned Parenthood was originally asked to participate in the event, but literally hours before the kick-off, the organization was uninvited by Xavier’s administration. This isn’t the first time that I have heard of the administration doing something like this.

Focus On All Families provided a positive atmosphere for LGBTQ families to enjoy themselves, and it let CCV know that we aren’t going to accept their version of a non-inclusive family.

GenderBloc, UC's LGBTQ coordinator and UC students crowd around the UC face-painting station.

Focus On All Families' organizers from Xavier Alliance speak at the event.

MUSE performs for the crowd at Focus On All Families.

Event organizers from all different groups wear a rainbow of shirts, each with a different inclusive family value printed on them.

It was face-painting galore at the UC/GenderBloc table.

A balloon-animal maker creates an owl for an event attendee.

I asked the balloon-animal maker to make me something of her choice and she made me Tinker Bell. She was definitely a hit at the event.